There aren’t many more popular sports available online for gamblers to bet on than horse racing. Newcomers can often be overwhelmed when it comes to betting on the sport, as the vast majority feel that it is more confusing than betting on sports such as football and basketball.
However, the sport isn’t as confusing as many think, and we will run through some of the most popular markets and biggest races that gamblers can bet on here.
Important Tips To Horse Racing Betting
Before making a wager on the latest horse racing action, it is essential to go through some of the tips that all gamblers should follow before making a wager. Research is important when it comes to betting on any sport, but it could be argued that this preparation is more important when it comes to betting on racing.
The ideal research could be the difference between winning a wager and losing, as there are a number of factors that customers must assess before putting a stake on a selection.
Novices to the sport will often hear racing fans talking about form, and that is because this is the biggest indicator. Reading through the form is essential before making a wager on any race. Gamblers must examine whether the horse has won his/her last race, or whether they have won a race previously.
Next, you need to look at the race that the horse won. Grade 1s are the most illustrious races available, which means that selections that have won one of these will stand a good chance regardless of the other runners. Grade 2s and Grade 3s are also prestigious races, while listed wins are also positive.
The jockey and trainer of the horse is also important information. Studying the jockey win rate could help find a leading chance, as jockeys with a string of wins behind them will stand an increased chance. Specific trainers also dominate certain races, and it is important to find these trends to stand the best chance of finding a winner.
Other factors to consider include the horses’ form over the distance that they will be running in the race you’re betting on. If they are proven over the trip, then they will stand a better chance. Meanwhile, the breed of the horse is also crucial reading for more expert gamblers, while ratings can also give an indicator to horses that could run well.
Popular Horse Racing Betting Markets
After understanding the research that you will need to do to make a horse racing bet, it is time to compare the markets that are available to gamblers. Some of the markets are straightforward to understand, while others may be more complex and will take a greater level of understanding before making a bet.
Win Betting
The best betting market available to newcomers to the sport is the win market. This market is effectively what the name suggests, as gamblers will be making a bet on a selection that they believe will win the race.
All horses in the race will have win odds, and you will simply add your selection to your bet slip. The returns are awarded should your selection win. For example, if you bet $10 on a 10/1 chance, then you will get $110 in returns from your selection if it is first home.
Place Betting
Gamblers that are just testing the waters when it comes to betting on the sport can make bets on the place market. The number of places offered in the race depends on the number of runners that are in the race. Smaller field races will likely only have two places, while bigger fields will see sportsbooks offer three.
However, important races throughout the season, such as the Grand National, could see leading sportsbooks offering up to six places. To get a winner in this market, the gambler must successfully wager their money on a horse that will finish in the determined place position.
Forecast Betting
If you feel more confident after betting on the two markets mentioned above, then you can look to make a wager on one of the more complex markets. The forecast market is one of the most difficult to get a winner, as gamblers must correctly put their money on the two horses that are first home.
Most importantly, the gambler must get the correct finishing order. This is a popular way for expert bettors to make wagers, as extensive research needs to be done beforehand. However, it could be potentially very lucrative.
Multiple Betting
Multiple betting is also popular for horse racing fans. Accumulators are a prominent selection that are easy to understand, but the room for error is minimal. When betting on accumulators, bettors must have all selections on their bet correct. At least two selections can be added to form an accumulator.
Lucky 15s are the most popular type of multiple betting for horse racing. Gamblers must add four selections to their bet slip to start with. You can then place a $1 stake per line, which would create a $15 total wager.
This bet covers all possible outcomes for the four selections in the bet, including singles, doubles, trebles and the four-fold. That means using this type of multiple, gamblers would get at least some returns after having one winner on their slip.
Check out these set of tips by Forbes.com.
Most Popular Races
There is racing action throughout the year, with huge races taking place in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. Due to the size of these events, these are always the most popular betting races, with even bettors that don’t make wagers throughout the year making a bet on these races. Some of the most popular races that you can make bets on from around the world can be found below:
- Kentucky Derby (United States)
- Melbourne Cup (Australia)
- Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (France)
- Grand National (United Kingdom)
- Breeders’ Cup Classic (United States)
- Dubai World Cup (UAE)
Make sure to learn the betting laws of your state and country too. For example, if you are from Michigan you can learn here how to bet on the state: https://www.twinspires.com/states/michigan